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WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners voted to approve the funds needed to provide the local match for two new public Warren Reserve Transit Authority bus routes in Warren.
Commissioners unanimously voted to accept $148,178.50 from Warren, which was needed to pay for half of the local match of $296,357 that will be used to finance the bus routes from March 2024 through March 2025. The other half of the money will be provided by the county.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is providing a grant of nearly $300,000 through federal flex funds.
Five bus routes were discontinued last year because the state did not renew funding for them.
One of the routes expected to return with the grant funding is 73-West, which travels West Market Street to Tod Avenue NW to Norwood Street to Northfield Avenue NW to Parkman Road.
The other route that would return is 74-Elm, which travels High Street to Elm Road NW to the Walmart.
Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said resuming the bus service on these two routes will give the commissioners, working with Warren and WRTA, time to develop a permanent solution to the public transportation problem in Trumbull County.
"The big picture is we are collaborating with Warren," Cantalamessa said. "The FTA (Federal Transit Authority) and the state are willing to work with the county on whatever the plan is in Trumbull County. It does not matter if the plan is with WRTA. We have to demonstrate our needs. They will help us. These are the two most traveled routes."
Commissioner Niki Frenchko described the passage of the funding as a bandaid on a hemorrhage before the elections.
"There was no reason there should have been a gap in services," Frenchko said. "There is still no plan in place. These rides will expire in a year, but there is still no plan in place."
Cantalamessa described their most recent efforts as part of a plan to establish the need for a bus service.
Frenchko continues to advocate for the county to join WRTA and then allow the voters to decide whether they want to pass a quarter-percent sales tax to have a regional bus service throughout the county.
Cantalamessa argues the sales tax increase would provide $7 million a year for the bus service and the county does not need that level of service. "We need to have a tailored system," he said.
Commissioner Denny Malloy said the county should reestablish a transit board.
Warren resident Janet Hazlette said there were problems with the previous transit board.
"I would like to suggest the commissioners go to WRTA in Youngstown," she said. "See how it functions, see the garage and federal station downtown. Make sure you see renovations downtown."
"We should look at all of the options on the table," Malloy said.
Mike Salamone, Trumbull County Transit Administrator, also outlined a possible three-part plan that can take place over the next year. Options include the county joining WRTA, the commissioners running the bus service or the county establishing its own Regional Transit Authority.
Establishing its own RTA would allow the county to collect the same type of federal funds now being collected by the WRTA.
"You will have to determine whichever one you want," Salamone said. "We do have a plan."